Machhli, the most iconic of India’s tigers

Aug 19, 2016 15:09 IST

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Legendary tigress Machli, also known as the Queen of Ranthambore, finally succumbed to old age on Friday morning ending her love affair with Rajasthan’s Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. She was arguably the queen of the dry deciduous forest of Ranthambore tiger reserve. (Aditya “Dicky” Singh)

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Machli was famous for her hunting skill and strength. A video of her killing a 14-foot-long mugger crocodile had gone viral. (Aditya ‘Dicky’ Singh)

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Machhli was given her name by the late field director Shri Fateh Singh Rathore as her mother had a fish-like design on her face and machli means fish. (Aditya ‘Dicky’ Singh)

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19-year old Machhli was by many records the longest living wild tigress in the world . When she died on the morning of August 18 she left behind a void. (Aditya ‘Dicky’ Singh)

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“Tigers like Machhli walk on the richest land in India full of natures treasures and this includes a wealth of trees and living organisms and endless reservoirs of water that are all irreplaceable. It is this land of the tiger that therefore sustains any quality of life for all humans. Let’s learn to protect it and sustain it for future generations,” writes conservationist Valmik Thapar (Aditya ‘Dicky’ Singh)

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The 19-year-old tigress was one of the most photographed in the world. Tourist sighted her often on the forest tracks of Ranthambore national park and she renewed Ranthambhore’s success story. (Aditya ‘Dicky’ Singh)

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Machhli gave birth to eleven cubs. Krishna or T-19 (middle) was one of the three sisters born in 2006. This was last of the four litters Machali had. (Aditya ‘Dicky’ Singh)

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Machhli was a master predator and left a huge impact in the annals of the natural history of wild tigers. She was the first tigress in the world to attack a 12-foot crocodile that was edging towards her prey and her cubs. (Aditya ‘Dicky’ Singh)

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The turn of the century was a difficult moment and poachers were rampant across western and central India. By 2004, Sariska tiger reserve lost all its tigers due to poaching and Ranthambhore lost half of its tigers for the same reason. (Aditya ‘Dicky’ Singh)

Chhoti Tara is amongst the stars at Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. Seen here with cubs.

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Bandhavgarh tiger reserve has had had its share of popular tigers and Sita was was one of the most pictured tigress of Madhya Pradesh. She was on the poster of state tourism department for almost a decade. She was less ferocious than other tigers and was known for her love for her cubs.

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Sharmili was one of the stars of Corbett National Park. She is known for her "human like" love towards her cubs.

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Maya, the tigress of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, has been popular with photographers as she is seen in many parts of the forest. Her presence brings about 5 crore every year in revenue to the forest department.

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(Kalua, named so because of the black shade of his fur, is another favourite at the Bandhavgarh tiger reserve.)